2017 Mandatory CE Requirement for Pharmacists

Opioid Addiction Crisis Declared a Public Health Emergency in Virginia

On November 21, 2016 Governor McAuliffe issued a News Release stating that State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine has declared Virginia’s opioid abuse crisis a Public Health Emergency in the Commonwealth.

Naloxone protocol - Pharmacists shall follow this protocol when dispensing naloxone pursuant to an oral, written or standing order to a person to administer to another person believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose as authorized in §54.1-3408.

Protocol for the Prescribing of Naloxone and Dispensing by Trainers, adopted June 27, 2017 - Persons authorized by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to train individuals on the administration of naloxone for opioid overdose reversal shall follow this protocol when dispensing naloxone to a person, without charge or compensation, for administration to another person believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose as authorized in subsection Y of § 54.1-3408.

Additional information regarding REVIVE!, the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education program may be accessed here.

2017 Spring Break Zika Awareness Toolkit

Primarily a mosquito borne disease, the Zika virus is most impactful in warmer seasons when illness can be transmitted by insects carrying the virus from one person to another. Maintaining a keen awareness for the transmission and treatment of Zika virus infection is an imperative for healthcare practitioners.

Drug Disposal

Message from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):

NTSB has recently adopted a safety study about the risk of impairment in transportation accidents. As a result, it has made several recommendations including publication and dissemination of a reminder to all prescribers and pharmacists of the importance of routinely discussing with patients the effect their diagnosed medical conditions or recommended drugs may have on their ability to safely operate a vehicle in any mode of transportation. Click here to read an excerpt from the study.

An educational video for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help them identify the warning signs of prescription drug abuse and diversion when dispensing prescriptions was created by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® and the Anti-Diversion Industry Working Group, a consortium of pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. This 12-minute video, entitled, "Red Flags," includes a foreword from Virginia Board of Pharmacy Executive Director, Caroline D. Juran.

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses

Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment. The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license. For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.